Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
January 21, 2003 |
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Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Mixing quips, jokes and more than a small dose of history, Lowe’s Motor Speedway President and General Manager Humpy Wheeler cited example after example of stock car racing’s mega-level economic impact in the greater Charlotte area. But not lost in his rhetoric was a significant note of concern that NASCAR’s commitment to the region is “not a sure thing.” He cited the community’s recent full court press to keep NASCAR’s all-star event – The Winston – in Charlotte. “Everybody wants it,” Wheeler said, noting there are many communities (such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, even New York City) willing to come up with big bucks to take the event and its 145,000 box office to some other location. Although the event returns to Lowe’s in May, its future in Charlotte is unsure. “The community must embrace it,” Wheeler said if there’s any chance to keep it. Noting that the Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first corporation in the state to successfully exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the 70s, it has grown into a complex that attracts nearly 500,000 race fans to three events in Charlotte annually. More than 300 race teams (Winston Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck and ARCA) have their headquarters in the area, pumping $500 million annually into local economies. Asked if NASCAR might move it’s headquarters here, Wheeler said that could happen, but just as easily, he commented, Charlotte could see race teams leave because Charlotte is not the center of NASCAR activities since it has moved from its East Coast base into a national (and eventually international) sport. In honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday, Thomas Moore led the club in singing “We Shall Overcome.” Kip Kiser introduced a new member, Chuck Woodyard, president and CEO of the Charlotte Housing Authority. Leland Park honored two new Paul Harris Fellows – Mike Rash and Frank Watson III. Paul Solitario encouraged members to help others and sign up for work on the Rotary Habitat House. Lamar Thomas, head of the International Education Committee, talked about Rotary’s various international exchange programs. He said the District’s Group Study Exchange, scheduled for Colombia, would now go to Poland, because of instability in the South American country. There are student exchange programs of various types (see the website), including one involving local students who read the Moscow Times and Russian students who read the Charlotte Observer, then discuss what they’ve read. Head Table: David Anderson, Ed Kizer, Gene Williams, Lou Solomon, Tim Newman, Ken Samuelson; Club Education: Lamar Thomas. Visitors & Guests: Rusty Brink; Health & Happiness: Jamie McLawhorn; Song: Thomas Moore; Invocation: Byron Bullard. * * * |
New Member
Kurt was born in Portugal and educated in Germany. During his business career, Mr. Waldthausen, who has command of four languages, has lived for five years in Pakistan, a year in South America, 18 years in the United States and has traveled on all five continents to more than 100 countries. Mr. Waldthausen started his business with the German export-import company Lohmann & Co. in Bremen, Germany and served the company for 12 years. His last assignment with Lohmann & Co. included overall responsibility for 15 subsidiaries located on five continents with more than 750 employees. In 1983, Kurt moved to the United States and became president of Hettich America, the world’s largest furniture hardware manufacturer. In 1988, he became President of HOLZ-HER U.S., Inc., Charlotte, NC, a company that assembles industrial woodworking machines at its U.S. Headquarters for distribution and sales in a territory that stretches from Canada to Chile. In addition, Mr. Waldthausen became Chairman of HOLZ-HER Canada in March 1995. In 2000 Waldthausen started the company Carolinas International Connection, Inc., to share his success with other, primarily German, Entrepreneurs with subsidiaries in the Carolinas. In addition, he recently became a partner of the Executive Search firm Coleman Lew & Associates. Kurt is or has served as a member of the Board of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta, GA, and as the President of this Chamber for the State of NC, on the Board of the Charlotte World Affairs Council and as President of the German Saturday School of Charlotte, NC. He was the 1998 President of International House. The Mayor of Charlotte appointed Kurt as the first non US-citizen as Chairman Charlotte Sister Cities. In 2002, he was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of North Carolina. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Kurt. * * * Did You Hear… è Polio Eradication Update Club Pledge:
$54,000 è Rotary Breakfast Bunch will meet January 27th, 7:30 AM, 5th Floor of the Reese Building at UNCC. èWelcome to new member, Charles Woodyard. è Volunteers needed for Habitat for Humanity. Contact Ken Samuelson or Paul Solitario. è Sympathy is extended to the family of Frank P. Larson, Jr. * * * |
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Revised: January 24, 2008.
